New Guinea Impatiens Plant Named &#39;SAKIMP030&#39;

ABSTRACT

A New Guinea  Impatiens  plant particularly distinguished by having a red flower color, strong root system and a compact plant growth habit is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Impatiens hybrida hort

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘SAKIMP030’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises of a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens, botanically known as Impatiens hybrida hort, andreferred to by the variety name ‘SAKIMP030’. Impatiens variety‘SAKIMP030’ originated from a hybridization between the female Impatiensline ‘NF-572A2’, an unpatented proprietary Impatiens breeding line withan orange flower color and the male Impatiens line ‘NG-434’, anunpatented proprietary Impatiens breeding line with a red flower colorin Misato, Japan.

In December 2007, the female parent line ‘NF-572A2’ and the male parentline ‘NG-434’ were crossed and a population of F₁ plants was created.The F₁ plants were evaluated in Misato, Japan in an open field trial.The criteria for plant selection included a beautiful red flower color,strong root system and a compact plant growth habit. At the completionof the trial, one single-plant selection was made based on theaforementioned criteria and vegetatively propagated. From May to August2009, the selection was evaluated in an open field in Misato, Japan. Theselection subsequently was named ‘SAKIMP030’ and found to have itsunique characteristics reproduce true to type in successive generationsof asexual vegetative propagation.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar have been applied for in Japanas application No. 27419, filed on Sep. 20, 2012.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

1. Red flower color;

2. Strong root system; and

3. A compact plant growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This Impatiens plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, andflowers. The photographs are of a four-month-old plant grown in Salinas,Calif. under greenhouse conditions in the spring of 2012. The colorsshown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

FIG. 2 shows the mature inflorescence of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘SAKIMP030’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inSalinas, Calif. Data was collected on four-month-old plants grown undergreenhouse conditions in Salinas, Calif. in the summer of 2012. Colorreferences are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety of London (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition (2001).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Balsaminaceae.        -   Botanical.—Impatiens interspecific cross (Impatiens hybrida            hort).        -   Common.—Impatiens.        -   Designation.—‘SAKIMP030’-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Impatiens plant line ‘NF-572A2’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Impatiens plant line ‘NG-434’            (unpatented).-   Growth:    -   -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 4 weeks.        -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—The terminal 1.0            to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The            vegetative cuttings were propagated in five to six weeks.            The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a            1:9 solution of Dip 'N Grow (1 solution: 9 water) root            inducing solution immediately prior to sticking into the            cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays            having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based            growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from            overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient            roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were transplanted and            grown in 6-inch plastic pots in a glass greenhouse located            in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based growing            medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10%            phosphorus and 20% potassium was applied once a day or every            other day by overhead irrigation. Plants were fertilized            every 2 to 3 days, 2 times in consecutive applications and            then given one clear water application. Pots were            top-dressed with a dry, slow release fertilizer containing            14% nitrogen, 14% phosphorus and 14% potassium. The typical            average air temperature was 24° C.        -   Time to bloom from propagation.—6 to 8 weeks.-   Plant description:    -   -   Habit.—Compact.        -   Life cycle.—Tender perennial.        -   Height (from soil line to top of foliage).—14.0 cm.        -   Spread.—40.0 cm.        -   Flowering requirements.—Will flower so long as temperature            is above 5° C.        -   Temperature tolerances.—Plants observed to continue            flowering in a temperature range of 5° C. to 36° C. Plants            can withstand high heat and humidity.-   Branches:    -   -   Number of branches.—3 main branches, 6 branches total.        -   Length of branches.—Approximately 2.0 cm from soil line to            first node, approximately 11.0 cm total.        -   Diameter of branches.—1.5 cm, main branch.        -   Color of branches.—RHS 187A (Greyed-Purple).-   Stems:    -   -   General.—Strong; circular cross-section, smooth and shiny.        -   Stem length.—5.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.6 cm.        -   Internode length.—2.5 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 187A (Greyed-Purple).        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Anthocyanin color.—Absent.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled with up to 5 leaves per node, opposite            if only two leaves at one node.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate, curled.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Ciliate.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color.—Upper vein color: RHS 145C (Yellow-Green)            Lower vein color: RHS 145C (Yellow-Green).        -   Variegation.—Absent.        -   Surface appearance (both surfaces).—Dull, waxy.        -   Surface pubescence (both surfaces).—Very slight.        -   Surface pubescence color (both surfaces).—RHS N155A (White).        -   Length.—8.0 cm.        -   Width.—3.5 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Darker than RHS 147A (Yellow-Green)            Lower surface: RHS 147B (Yellow-Green).        -   Petiole.—Length: 0.5 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm Color: RHS 145C            (Yellow-Green) with slight RHS 187D (Greyed-Purple)            anthocyanin Texture: Smooth, glabrous.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Flowers:    -   -   Total number of flowers per node.—1 to 3 in bloom, about 4            to 6 flower buds per node.        -   Total number of flower per plant.—Approximately 40 to 50 in            bloom.        -   Inflorescence type.—Single flower with spur.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—14 days.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Bud surface.—Glabrous.        -   Bud length.—1.8 cm.        -   Bud diameter.—1.0 cm.        -   Bud shape.—Deltoid, longitudinal cross-section.        -   Bud color.—RHS 187C (Greyed-Purple) with RHS 143C (Green) at            edge.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle length.—4.5 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Peduncle color.—RHS 61B (Red-Purple).        -   Peduncle texture.—Smooth, glabrous.-   Corolla:    -   -   Shape.—Roughly circular with 5 radial petals.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 6.0 cm.        -   Depth.—0.5 cm to 1.0 cm.        -   Petals.—Shape: Obcordate Apex: Emarginate (cleaved) Margin:            Entire Base: Attenuate Pubescence: Glabrous Length: 3.0 cm            Width: 3.0 cm Color: Upper: Closest to but darker than RHS            45A (Red) Lower: Closest to but darker than RHS 58B            (Red-Purple) Eye zone: RHS 187B (Greyed-Purple) and RHS 187D            (Greyed-Purple).-   Spur:    -   -   Shape.—Tubular; curved downward. Length: 8.0 cm. Diameter:            0.2 cm. Color: RHS 61B (Red-Purple).-   Calyx:    -   -   Arrangement.—Composed of 2 sepals.        -   Sepals.—Shape: Lanceolate Base: Subcordate Apex: Caudate            Margin: Entire Texture: Glabrous Color: RHS 187C            (Greyed-Purple) with RHS 143B (Green) at tip Length: 1.5 cm            Diameter: 0.8 cm.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen number.—Many.        -   Stamen form.—Fused; split into 4 lobes.        -   Filament length.—0.4 cm.        -   Anther length.—0.9 cm.        -   Stamen color.—Anther color: RHS 155A (White) Filament color:            RHS 187A (Greyed-Purple).        -   Pollen color.—RHS 155D (White).        -   Pollen amount.—Abundant.        -   Pollen description.—Powdery.        -   Ovary.—Parietal.        -   Ovary surface color.—RHS 145A (Yellow-Green).        -   Pistil number.—5.        -   Pistil length.—0.4 cm.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 143A (Green).        -   Style length.—1.0 cm.        -   Style color.—RHS 143A (Green).        -   Seed production.—Absent.-   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility observed

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘SAKIMP030’ is a new and unique variety of Impatiens owing to its redflower color, strong root system and a compact plant growth habit.‘SAKIMP030’ is distinguished from its parents mainly by flower color asshown in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male ParentCharacteristic ‘SAKIMP030’ ‘NF-572A2’ ‘NG-434’ Plant growth CompactInformation not Less compact than habit available ‘SAKIMP030’ BranchingGood branching: 3 Information not Less branching than main branches, 6available ‘SAKIMP030’ branches total Flower color Bright red Orange Red

‘SAKIMP030’ is a new and unique variety of Impatiens owing to its redflower color, strong root system and a compact plant growth habit.‘SAKIMP030’ is most similar to the commercial Impatiens variety ‘MisatoFG1’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,708), commercially known as SunPatiens®‘Vigorous Red’; however there are differences in the flower color asdescribed in the table below (color references are to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 4th edition):

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘SAKIMP030’‘Misato FG1’ Petal color, Closest to but darker than RHS Closest to RHS46C (Red) upper surface 45A (Red) Petal color, Closest to but darkerthan RHS RHS 58C (Red-Purple) lower surface 58B (Red-Purple) Petalcolor, RHS 187B and RHS 187D RHS 60D (Red-Purple) eye zone(Greyed-Purple) Plant growth Compact Vigorous habit

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens hybrid plant as shown and described herein. 